Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomemyim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomemyim’, characterized by its single-type, dark yellow-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsomemyim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea x hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomemyim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during October 2012. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence formhaving imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Echinacea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinacea xhybrida breeding selection coded E97-6-12, not patented, characterizedby its single-type, dark yellow-colored ray florets, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulkpollen mix of thirteen proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breedingselections coded E97-6-1 through E97-6-13, not patented, characterizedby their single-type, dark yellow-colored ray florets, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growthhabit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring October 2013 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagationsince October 2013 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the newcultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomemyim’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, dark yellow-colored inflorescences;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and possiblemale parents primarily in having a slightly different ray floret colorand a more compact habit.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is SOMBRERO Lemon Yellow ‘Balsomemy’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,768. However, in side by side comparisons, plantsof the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomemy’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color that is        slightly darker than plants of ‘Balsomemy’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a receptacle spine color that        is more yellow than plants of ‘Balsomemy’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have longer ray florets than        plants of ‘Balsomemy’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balsomemyim’. The plants were approximately 18-weeks old and grown inElburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers for approximately 4 weeks in agreenhouse and 6 weeks outdoors.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsomemyim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balsomemyim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in June 2017 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately18-week old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown utilizinga soilless growth medium under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-galloncontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse for approximately 4 weeks andthen outside for approximately 6 weeks. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.)during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.)during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balsomemyim’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding            selection coded E97-6-12, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of five proprietary Echinacea x            hybrida breeding selections coded E97-6-1 through E97-6-13,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are            possible.        -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at            18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately            30 days at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm            container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            moderately vigorous, compact-upright.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to            −26° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 33.0 cm. Width: Approximately 42.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow            from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately            7.        -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:            Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            25.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:            144A to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire,            slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            11.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.7 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Dull, moderately pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately            pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface            of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137A with venation            of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage:            Closest to 147B with venation of 147C.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 7.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:            Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely covered with            very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower            surfaces: 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomemyim’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through            autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in            a greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:            Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:            Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Height:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.5 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 11.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Color: 144A to 144B.        -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 8. Shape: Flattened            globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:            Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm. Color:            Outer ray florets of 154D with bud center of 143A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 21.            Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect:            Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age, twisting absent.            Shape: Elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate to notched. Base:            Attenuate. Length: Approximately 4.3 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper surface when            first open: 14A. Color of lower surface when first open:            11C. Color of upper surface when fully open: 12A fading to            12B with age. Color of lower surface when fully open: 11D.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm. Disc            height: Approximately 2.2 cm. Quantity per inflorescence:            Approximately 300. Arrangement: Spirally arranged in center            of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin of free portion:            Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube.            Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of inner surface when first            and fully open: 145C. Color of outer surface when first and            fully open: 145B transitioning to 155D at base.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Color: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 40.            Arrangement: In a three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards            the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 to            3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture            of lower or outer surface: Moderately pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower            surface: 137B.        -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:            Approximately 300. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately            1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:            Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of            163B, mid-section of 144A, and base of 155D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,            basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther            color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Filament color: 155D. Pollen amount: Sparse to            moderate. Pollen color: 17B. Gynoecium: Present on disc            florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 154C. Style length:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 145C. Ovary length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary color: 155D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plantnamed ‘Balsomemyim’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.